Beehive’s all the buzz

Actors and Artists take a trip down memory lane

Actors and Artists of the Riverbend presents “BeeHive: the 60s Musical” Friday, July 24, to Sunday, July 26, at the Nazarene Community Center in Roxana.

Actors and Artists of the Riverbend presents “BeeHive: the 60s Musical” Friday, July 24, to Sunday, July 26, at the Nazarene Community Center in Roxana.

Photo: For The Telegraph

Photo: For The Telegraph

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Actors and Artists of the Riverbend presents “BeeHive: the 60s Musical” Friday, July 24, to Sunday, July 26, at the Nazarene Community Center in Roxana.

Actors and Artists of the Riverbend presents “BeeHive: the 60s Musical” Friday, July 24, to Sunday, July 26, at the Nazarene Community Center in Roxana.

Photo: For The Telegraph

Beehive’s all the buzz

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ROXANA — In a salute to the musical women of the 1960s, Actors and Artists of the Riverbend brings three performances of “BeeHive: the 60s Musical” to the Nazarene Community Center.

Actors and Artists of the Riverbend (AAR), now in its fourth year, continues to support area nonprofits with each production. “BeeHive: the 60s Musical” will benefit Jacoby Arts Center and its programming.

Directed by Sue Mueller, with choreography by Gordon Cragg, and vocal and musical direction by Caitlin Peach, “BeeHive: the 60s Musical” was originally written and directed by Larry Gallegher. The musical revue covers the songs of the 1960s that were not only sang by girl groups and female singers, they also appeal to and describe women and their circumstances.

“It’s My Party,” “Where the Boys Are,” “Respect,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?,” “Society’s Child,” “One Fine Day,” and hits from everyone from Aretha Franklin, Leslie Gore and Janis Joplin to Tina Turner, and Diana Ross and the Supremes comprise the more than 40 songs demonstrating the “signs of the times,” with upbeat dancing and sing-a-longs.

“Beehive” also “showcases” the hairstyle. The beehive or “B-52” was a style that was invented by Margaret Vinci Heldt, a hairdresser in Elmhurst, Ill. The original idea was to make women appear taller — and in the late 1950s and 1960s, it was considered to be very fashionable.

Band members in Actors and Artists of the Riverbend’s production of “Beehive” are Daniel Nosce on piano; Jackson Frosch and Thomas Frosch on guitar; Sam Frosch — bass; Ryan Haynes — drums; Will Schmalbeck — trumpet; and, Andy McPike on tenor saxophone.

The technical director is Jerry Mueller.

A silent auction will be held at each performance of “Beehive: The 60s Musical,” with a range of items for bid, such as Elvis Presley dated commemorative stamps, “thirty-one” bags and gift items, jewelry, car care, and certificates for various shopping venues.

The Jacoby Arts Center is expanding its community outreach through new programs, continuing art exhibits, live music events and theater production, and Mueller said the Actors and Artists of the Riverbend join Jacoby Arts Center in its mission of nurturing and promoting the arts by enhancing its programming with community theater.

“Jacoby’s board and board president Denny Scarborough have been so encouraging and supportive,” Mueller said.

“BeeHive: The 60s Musical” is sponsored by Liberty Bank.

Actors and Artists of the Riverbend theater group was established in 2011 as a community group of professional teams that create theater productions to benefit area nonprofits. Past productions have benefited organizations like 5A’s Animal Shelter, Riverbender.com Community Center and Alton Youth Symphony.

Actors and Artists of the Riverbend will produce “Sweet Music on Broadway” in February.

“BeeHive: The 60s Musical” will be onstage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 26, at the Nazarene Community Center, 400 N. Central Ave., in Roxana. Tickets cost $10 for adults; $6 for students and senior citizens, and can be purchased online at www.jacobyartscenter.org or at the door.